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When summer comes knocking, it brings along not only the warmth and sunshine but a host of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities. Here are eight ideas to help you soak in all the glorious summer weather has to offer.  Via Pexels
1. Discover The Green Thumb Within You Starting a summer garden is a rewarding way to enjoy the warm weather. Be it fruits, vegetables, or simply flowers for visual delight, gardening is therapeutic and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction of eating a salad with veggies you've grown yourself. This summer, grow tomatoes, cucumbers, or peppers in your backyard or even in containers on a sunny balcony. A garden does not only elevate your space but also allows you to connect with nature right at home. 2. Embark On A Local Adventure In today's digitally connected world, we often overlook the allure of simple pleasures that lie right outside our doorstep. One such activity is exploring local trails either on foot or by bike. Not only does it provide an excellent opportunity to engage in physical exercise, but it also allows you to appreciate the scenic beauty enveloping your surroundings. Each trail offers unique landscapes and challenges, making it a versatile activity suitable for all fitness levels. Furthermore, it encourages you to disconnect from technology and reconnect with the natural world, promoting mental tranquility and well-being. As a bonus, you may stumble upon beautiful spots perfect for a relaxing picnic or a memorable photoshoot. 3. Venture Into Birdwatching Summer is the ideal season for birdwatching, with migratory birds flocking in. Grab a bird guide book or download a bird identifying app, take your binoculars, and head to the nearest bird sanctuary or even your backyard. Birdwatching is a fascinating hobby that can teach patience and observation skills. It offers a chance to slow down and admire nature's intricate details. 4. Master Outdoor Cooking Summer is synonymous with barbeques and cookouts. This year, push your culinary boundaries by experimenting with new recipes. Challenge yourself by adding cowboy beans at your next cookout to your menu. These beans, slow-cooked with a mix of sweet and tangy flavors and a hint of smoked meat, are a staple at cookouts in the American West and will add a unique touch to your summer meals. It's a fun and delicious way to enhance your grilling skills and surprise your guests. 5. Practice Outdoor Yoga Starting your day with a yoga session under the early morning sun can be a rejuvenating experience. The combination of natural light, fresh air, and the tranquility of the outdoors enhances the benefits of yoga, making you feel calm and energized for the day ahead. Practicing yoga outdoors can also increase your vitamin D levels, and the varied terrain can help enhance your balance and stability. If you're new to yoga, consider joining an outdoor class or following an online tutorial. 6. Try Night Sky Observation On clear summer nights, the sky becomes a stunning tapestry of stars. Investing in a telescope and a star map can lead to many exciting summer nights spent stargazing. Make it a fun family activity, locate constellations, or watch meteor showers. You might even spot a few shooting stars! 7. Refresh With Homemade Summer DrinksWhy spend money on store-bought drinks when you can make fresh, healthier ones at home? Making homemade lemonade, iced tea, or fruity infusions can be an enjoyable process. Experiment with different flavors, add fresh herbs from your garden, and enjoy the refreshing drinks on a sunny afternoon. Not only will you hydrate and refresh yourself, but you'll also eliminate the artificial sweeteners and preservatives found in commercial beverages. Plus, it's a fun way to introduce kids to the joys of cooking. 8. Plan A Beach Day If you live near a coast, planning a beach day is a must. Beach volleyball, sandcastle building or just relaxing under an umbrella with a good book are just a few ways to enjoy yourself at the beach. Pack a picnic of summer goodies such as fresh fruits and sandwiches; don't forget your sunblock! Engaging in watersports like paddleboarding, snorkeling or just swimming can add excitement and adventure. To cap it all off perfectly build a bonfire and share stories as the sun goes down; creating memories that will last a lifetime. As summer comes into full bloom, now is the time to break free from our normal routines and embrace its many sun-drenched possibilities. Unleash your adventurous side, discover new passions or simply find joy in simple summer moments like dawn's early light to the spectacular sunset - let each moment be a celebration of life. There is a lot that you might be keen to get out of a garden space, but one of the most common and popular is for it to be usable as a place to entertain guests. If you are hoping to be able to do that, then you are going to have to take a closer look at things, and make sure that the garden really is set up right to do this, which can actually be a lot simpler than you might assume it to be. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the major things you will want to think about in this regard.  Image Source - CCO License Space First of all and perhaps most importantly, you need to make sure that there is enough space. This does not necessarily require that the garden is sprawling and huge, but merely that you have cleared and arranged it in such a way that you are able to entertain guests easily without having to worry about people having enough room to move around. If you are trying to make sure of this, you might need to declutter and move things around just to ensure that it works properly, so that is something to consider. BBQ Ready One of the most common ways to make use of a garden is of course to host a BBQ there from time to time, so it can be a great idea to ensure that your garden is truly and genuinely BBQ ready. There are a lot of things you might need to focus on to help with that, and in general it’s something that you are going to have to think about a lot. Anyway, you will hopefully be having chicken wings this weekend if you do this right, and that can help make your garden a much more entertaining place. Lighting Lighting should never be ignored when creating an entertaining garden space. Proper outdoor lighting allows gatherings to continue into the evening while creating a warm and welcoming ambiance for your gatherings. Consider installing string lights for an enchanting canopy effect or lanterns and path lights to light your walkways and seating areas. Solar-powered lights offer energy-efficiency while making lightening up your garden hassle-free! Keep this in mind: the goal is to create a comfortable and safe environment so your guests can easily navigate their way through and appreciate your garden even after dark. Or hire a licensed electrician to install permanent outdoor lighting fixtures for a more professional aesthetic.  Image Source - CCO License
Attractive Of course, you will probably want your garden to look the part as well if it is going to be good for having guests, and mostly that means that it has an attractive appearance in a particular garden style that you can be happy with. Whether you are looking to adopt a modern look or a traditional one, or really anything in between, this is the kind of thing that you absolutely have to focus on if you want to make sure your garden is great for having guests. If nothing else, you will be a lot prouder to have it. All The Senses Finally, make sure that you have thought about all the senses, and that you are creating an exterior space which is as effective as possible when it comes to being somewhere people actually want to be. In other words, it doesn’t matter how it looks if it doesn’t smell nice enough, so you have to think about that kind of thing as best as you can. It really will make a huge difference to your experience of hosting guests in that space in the future. Gift Cards for Father’s Day  Looking for a unique Father’s Day gift idea? Does the dad in your life need help with a home office? Garage improvements? Patio design? Tv room? Offering online or on-site (LA/OC areas) interior design consulting in hourly increments. A great gift for the person who might need ideas and feedback for any of their design dilemmas. (Works online for anyone, anywhere by emailing photos and questions of a room and in return they’ll be provided design ideas, solutions, links, photos, etc.)
Gift Cards are available in hourly increments starting at 1 Hour for $150. Being a host in your own home can be daunting. First, it might be your first time inviting people over as you have moved to your own home. Or, you might have lacked the confidence before. Either way, you should feel confident being a host in your own home. If you want to know how to be a great host and ensure guests have the best time, here are some tips.  Photo by Rene Asmussen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-gathering-in-garden-1405493/
Follow a recipe Following recipes is bound to make you a more confident host. It will guide you through the process and ensure that the flavor and timings are perfect. For instance, using this beer cheese soup recipe, you can create a delicious dish that you have never created before. Instead of being shy when using ingredients you do not often use in cooking, you can have more confidence and ensure that the final result will be delicious and satisfying for everyone you are serving to. Make your backyard suitable for hosting Having the ultimate modern backyard will ensure that the space is perfect for hosting summer dinner parties and events. If you take your time perfecting your outside space, it will be an ideal location for your family and friends to gather. To make the space suitable for hosting, it makes sense to:
Simple additions to your garden will make it inviting and comfortable to host summer events. Make guests feel welcome immediately Another great way to be a great host is to ensure guests feel welcome as soon as they enter your home. If they have a place to sit and a drink in their hand, they will instantly feel relaxed. Ensuring that guests feel comfortable and calm when they get to your home for the dinner event or party will ensure they feel comfortable for the remainder. Hug your guests Speaking of guests arriving at your home, it will help if you give them a big warm hug. Hugging your guests will make them feel at home and welcome to the party. Whether they are family or work colleagues, it is a great way to show them that you want them to feel welcome in your space. Take their belongings Guests won’t want to sit with their jackets and shoes on. Therefore, ensure to take their belongings or let them know where to leave them. With their belongings set aside and a drink in hand, they can feel more relaxed. Place snacks around the room Whether you are hosting in your living room or your garden, it is a good idea to place snacks around so that if guests feel peckish, they can nibble away until the food is ready. You won’t want your guests to feel hungry. Therefore, it makes sense to offer them something to graze on in the meantime. Offer a variety of drinks On the topic of ensuring your guests are fed, it is also important to ensure they are hydrated. Offering a variety of drinks will ensure that everyone can find something they like. Some people might drive, so they will want a soft drink. Others might prefer tea and coffee over cocktails. Having plenty of choices will ensure everyone can enjoy a refreshment. Let them help themselves If you are comfortable letting your guests help themselves to drinks and food, it makes sense to show them where they can find everything. Showing your guests around the kitchen will ensure that can grab what they need throughout the event, which will help minimize your labor and help them feel more comfortable in your home. Clean up your home Before your event starts, it is a good idea to clean your home. Making everything as clean and presentable as possible will ensure guests feel relaxed and that you have made an effort to make them feel hygienic. Wiping down the sides, replacing the bin liner, and cleaning the floors can be enough to make your home guest ready. If you want to go the extra mile, it can help to boost the smell of your home. Burning candles and adding diffusers will guarantee to make your home smell amazing. Offer blankets If the weather is cold or your event goes into the evening, ensure to offer people blankets. You won’t want guests to be cold. If you do not have enough jumpers and jackets to go around, it makes sense to offer the next available option, something warm to cover themselves with. |
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